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Thursday, August 20, 2015

Eyefoods Tips: Antioxidants

Get your antioxidants by eating brightly coloured
fruits and vegetables.

Getting them from food versus only from
supplements allows your body to benefit from the synergy of the nutrients in
foods.

Antioxidants are a class of substances that help to prevent
oxidation in the body. Examples are, vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C
and vitamin E, as well as phytochemicals such as the carotenoids lutein and
zeaxanthin.

Oxidation is a chemical reaction in the body that changes a
stable molecule into a free radical. Free radicals can form from environmental
factors including, exposure to UV light, hazardous chemicals and air pollution.
They can also be formed due to the natural aging process, poor dietary habits
and smoking.

If left unchecked free radicals can damage the body and
tissues leading to a variety of chronic disease such as age-related macular
degenerations, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

However, antioxidants may reduce the risk of age-related
macular degeneration and cataracts, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease
and cancer.

Fruits and vegetables, cold water fish, eggs and plant oils
are some examples of great antioxidant sources for vision health.